After a discussion about family and politics and world order over buffalo wings and oreo sundaes with my cousin Kiran in Cleveland, we're up and I'm ready to drive us to Philly. It's weird - the trip is coming to an end, but as Hasan said yesterday "it's only the beginning of the middle of our lives together". That's a nice way to think about it.
It's been historic and magical the past few days. Ever since we drove past Denver Sunday night - the night before the Democratic convention, we've been eagerly awaiting the speeches Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights. As we drove into Iowa City, we didn't want to get out of the car and check into the hotel because we were listening to the Kennedy tribute and speech on the radio. Then we wanted to rush and get food and get settled before Michelle Obama gave her speech. Listening to it on the radio felt like a throwback - like days of old when families would gather around the radio to listen to presidents. We were amazed and re-endeared to Hillary Clinton upon listening to her speech. I am finally starting to believe again that Obama could be our next president after last night's speeches by Biden and President Clinton. But I am very cautious - I realize that once the Republican Convention happens, I probably won't believe again. We've also been listening to Rush Limbaugh and Fox News on this trip - when you hear those people, you realize there are just enough people that - let's face it - don't want a black man as president. I've been sort of feeling like one of my missions in moving to Philadelphia is to help elect Obama since Pennsylvania is a battleground state. You know what I'm going to be doing for the next few months during my free time! Anyways, this whole week has felt magical for us. Can't speak for Hasan but the idea that we're coming together this week to start our lives and our family and this is the very week that Obama was nominated as the first black candidate makes me tear up - I feel like it would just be so amazing if I could actually say to my children (and believe it) that someday they can be president. I was tearing up yesterday looking at the audiences and seeing so many Indians in the delegates. I was tearing up yesterday realizing there is an Indian as a governor of a US state (Louisiana). It honestly feels like a different time than when I started elementary school in Houston, Texas and they just assumed I was Mexican because at that time, you were either black, white, Chinese or Mexican - that was it. They actually tried to put me in the ESL (English as a Second Language) class - but my mom wouldn't have it!
Anyways - Philly, here I come!
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